Helicopter crashes in Nepal, killing all seven aboard

KATHMANDU: A helicopter crashed in a mountainous region of Nepal on Monday, killing all seven on board, officials said. Nepal’s Civil Aviation Authority said efforts were being made to bring back the bodies from the site in the Chuchebhir area, located northwest of Kathmandu.

A helicopter of Nepal’s private Fishtail Air crashed while flying from Gorkha district to Kathmandu on Monday, killing all seven people on board, the home ministry said.

A five-day-old girl, who was being airlifted to Kathmandu for treatment, and her mother were among the dead, home ministry spokesperson Yadav Koirala told Hindustan Times.

Reports said all the dead belonged to the same family.

The helicopter crashed at Bhatine Danda in Nuwakot district, 100 km north of the national capital.

“We are ascertaining other details about the incident through the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal,” Koirala said. A team of Nepal Police had reached the crash site.

Fishtail Air confirmed the crash but did not give any more details. Another helicopter of Fishtail Air was deployed for the search operation.

Devendra KC, spokesperson of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, said the helicopter last made contact with ground control at 1 pm local time.

The crash site is located 5,500 feet above sea level, and the Civil Aviation Authority said rescue efforts were being hampered by bad weather.

Bishnu Pokhrel, chief district officer of Nuwakot, said a police team was dispatched after local residents alerted police about smoke billowing from the crash site.

A FIVEDAYOLD GIRL BEING AIRLIFTED TO KATHMANDU FOR TREATMENT AND HER MOTHER WERE AMONG THE DEAD. MEDIA REPORTS SAID ALL THE VICTIMS WERE FROM THE SAME FAMILY